Scottish Championships at Annandale

 

Sun, storms, stonking winds and a fabulous social were order of day for this year’s Scottish Championships, sailed at Annandale SC on 25 and 26 April.

 

Anyone who has been to Annandale SC before will know just what a fantastic event this small but supremely friendly club lays on.  This year was no exception and competitors had a wonderful weekend of sailing.  Saturday dawned sunny and relatively windless, but by time racing began re was a steady breeze which allowed fleet to enjoy some extremely competitive racing throughout fleet.  OOD Kenneth Wilson (aka Luke Pie Walker) set fleet off promptly at 1pm and race 1 was claimed by Mark and Emma Simpson, but y were pushed hard by Jo MacDonald and Greg Pitt, new owners of Max Factor.  MacDonald and Pitt extracted ir revenge in race 2 by reversing placings.  Bernard Clark and Andrew Mitchell took 3^rd place in each race, with Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson claiming 4^th in first race and Angus and Rohan Beyts claiming 4^th in race 2. 

 

 

 

 

After a break for tea (and some scrumptious home baked cakes) fleet went back afloat for race 3.  wear forecast had said to expect stronger winds in late afternoon but had made no mention of thunder and lightning.  first belt of lightning lit up sky above trees at far end of loch and that set scene for some heavy wear sailing.  Mark and Emma battled round course only to find that y didn’t get a finishing gun as y had been over line at start.  Jo and Greg took first, with Bernard and Andrew second.  Howard and Helen were third and only or boat to finish.

 

Saturday evening saw Annandale host most amazing curry night – a vast array of starters followed by a choice of 4 different curries, rice, naan bread, poppadoms and pickles, with copious quantities of alchoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included too.    Or clubs take note – this was all included in very reasonable entrance fee!  Those who weren’t ‘curried out’ were able to round off ir meal with pavlova, profiteroles and sherry trifle!

 

Sunday morning started off bright, sunny and windless, but by 11am re was a good breeze blowing down Loch, and it was somewhat colder.  Mark and Emma took race 4, with Jo and Greg 2^nd and Bernard and Andrew 3^rd.  Race 5 saw Clark and Mitchell capsize before start and miss race after problems righting boat, but re was anor battle for line which Mark and Emma claimed.  Howard and Helen were 3^rd with Chris and Ben Palmer 4^th.   final race (after lunch – also included in entry fee) saw Simpsons again take line honours with Bernard and Andrew 2^nd and Jo and Greg 3^rd.  Howard and Helen were 4^th.

 

Final Results:

 

1^st         Mark and Emma Simpson, N3472

2^nd        Jo MacDonald and Greg Pitt, N3473

3^rd            Bernard Clark and Andrew Mitchell, N3447

4^th        Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicolson, N3356 – also first AC

5^th        Chris and Ben Palmer, N3244

 

Brian Herring and Ros Stevenson were 8^th overall and first Vintage boat.

 

Author and photographer: Jennie Clark